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Michael Lee, Research Assistant

Pictures of Michael Lee

I am currently working on a few research projects regarding the accuracy of administrative data with Benford Analysis, the fiscal health of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the gender compensation disparity in Utah. I have also worked at the City of Vineyard, Utah, and at Mountainland Association of Governments which has exposed me to the practical implications and importance of long-term financing and allocations of funds within a budget. My latest professional experience was as a junior staff auditor at the Office of the Utah State Auditor, investigating issues of non-compliance, fraud, and waste of various state and municipal agencies.

Education and Credentials

MPA, Marriott School of Management, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah (2021)

B.S., Urban and Regional Planning – Geography, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah (2019)

What are your research interests?
My research interests are mainly within the realm of public budgeting and financial management. Specifically, I am drawn to fiscal federalism in relation to intergovernmental aid payments in both local and state governments. I seek to understand the fiscal health of cities in terms of the impacts from the 2008 economic recession and the 2019 COVID pandemic. I am also interested in researching the pension, bonds, and retirement benefits system of Omaha’s Police department and how their annual required contributions have a strong correlation to the city’s long-term financial sustainability.
How did you decide on your field of study?
Taking Public Financial Resource Management in the second semester of MPA fascinated me. The simple concept of the dollar with respect to time highlighted the importance of savings and investments for cities. As the class moved into municipal bonds and financial statements, I was excited to see how the concepts of budgeting and allocations are applied to real government scenarios. I was also intrigued by how varying required contributions of cities affected their budget. I believe that understanding financial conditions and public sector accounting of state and local government is important to a public agency’s financial sustainability.
What was your educational journey?
From my B.S. to my MPA, I have always appreciated how much professors know about their subject and how to share that knowledge with others. My experiences as a teaching assistant and a research assistant have deepened my understanding of the coursework and taught me that some of the best learning comes through research and teaching. Through these interactions, I discovered my passion for scholarly discussions. My experiences working in various local and state governments have affirmed my belief that becoming an educator is both my academic and career goal. I want to educate and inspire students in the field of public affairs, add new insights to current issues, identify solutions to problems, and ultimately be a positive contributor to the research literature in public administration.
How do you de-stress?
One of the ways that I de-stress is through cooking. I find it so relaxing to combine multiple ingredients with different sauces and spices to create an aromatic and tasty dish. I love playing a variety of sports, from soccer, to tennis, to basketball. I also love playing all kinds of board games.